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Question

Color conversion in Illustrator/InDesign vs Acrobat?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
June 4, 2021
4 replies
2532 views

I have an Illustrator file containing a nice smooth gradient made in RGB. When converting that gradient from RGB to any CMYK in Acrobat the gradient get ugly steps but when converting it in Illustrator the gradient is still smooth. When placing that Illustrator file in InDesign and color convert when exporting a PDF it looks good but if I export a RGB PDF from InDesign and color convert it later in Acrobat the result I get is ugly steps.

My question is why Illustrator/InDesign and Acrobat is doing color conversions in different ways?

This topic has been closed for replies.

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defaulttiwptupr6e0m

Participant

Hi Adobe Community, I saw some relavent conversions in the threads below. The attached print screen shows some blue squares built in InDesign and exported to PDF using "Press Quality" default settings. The color shift to PDF leans toward teal which is not desireable. I have adjusted all export color settings within InDesign, but cannot get Acrobat to display correctly. Any thoughts as to why? Thanks, Joe.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Which color management settings are used?

ANd for the export?

Is Acrobat using the correct color profile for the preview?

Lukas Engqvist

Community Expert

As Monica says what is your goal.

GMG is also doing a number of conversions and it does use ICC profiles. ICC profiles have also got several difffernt conversion tables depending on how you are using them. Then there is a layer of mathematics and rounding errors that you may introduce as you convert images. Even in the same application converting back and forth colours you will get degrading (and sometimes banding).

If you want to have consistent colur you will have to have a workflow from start to finish. Such a workflow will not be reversable without consequence if any colour conversion happens. Just like any translation if you start with one word translate to anthother language and then back again you may or may not end up with the original word.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Lukas, the problem discussed here is that you get a different result when you go File > Document Color Mode > CMYK Color compared with Save as PDF (with color conversion) or do the conversion in Photoshop or Acrobat (with the same profile, rendering intent ...).

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Can you share the RGB Illustrator gradient file?

Dropbox, WeTransfer, Google, CC filesharing...

To what CMYK are you converting?

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daniel_mgsAuthor

Known Participant

Yes I can share the RGB Illustrator gradient by Filemail so I need an email adress.

I'm converting from Adobe_RGB to PSO_coated_v3 (FOGRA 51) with relative rendering intent and bp comp

ensation.

FYI, when converting in GMG ColorServer, I get the same result both with GMG mx4 profile and ICC profile. This topic is also sent to GMG and they say that ColorServer is doing it right (GMG is using Adobe print engine) and I belive them, my question is really what is the difference between Illustrator/InDesign and Acrobat? They are all Adobe products.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

There should not be a difference.

It is not a good idea to share email adresses using this public forum (unless you want to invite spammers), so please use one of the file sharing suggestions above (Dropbox, WeTransfer, Google, CC filesharing...)

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Illustrator has features to enhance the display of gradients.

What is your goal with that file? Print it? In that case it doesn't matter of all what you see on screen. Only thing that matters is how it comes out of the press. If you are unsure, always ask the printer what their machine is capable of.

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daniel_mgsAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks but my question is why different Adobe applications doing color conversions in different ways?

I'm well aware of the process when it comes to print, prepress, premedia and color conversion but this topic I don't understand. It would be good if Adobe or anyone can explain why Illustrator and InDeign does it in one way and Acrobat in another way.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Is your color management synchronized?

The question is if this is actually a different conversion of colors or just a different display of gradients.

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